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Post by Richie3Jack on Apr 15, 2016 7:47:15 GMT -5
I just purchased a new 3-wood! It's the Cobra King F6 3-wood. I hit my Wishon 919F/D well, but I think it spins too much because the deep face head gets the CoG higher and more backwards which causes the spin to increase. I think it's a little more tricky to figure out the CoG combination you want with a 3-wood than it is with a driver because almost all drivers are 460cc's and almost all OEM's have different models of drivers that clearly produce different spins and launches. And most drivers are not designed to be high spinning anyway (want high launch, low spin). With the fairway woods, it's usually just 1 model for the line as far as a model for the lower handicap players. And there's some that are 150 cc, 160 cc, 180 cc, etc. sized heads. So I came across the Cobra line from reading DeChambeau's new clubs and saw that the driver had a movable weight that will adjust the CoG. There are actually 2 weights on the head. There's a blue weight and a black weight. The blue weight is 21 grams and the black weight is 4 grams. Move the blue weight up towards the face and it lowers the launch and the spin. Move the blue weight back and it increases the launch and the spin. I put the club on the MOI machine and it came out to 2,763 (I need about 4 more grams of weight added). I changed the weights around and it didn't change the MOI at all. The woods also allow you to change the loft thru the hosel adapter. Obviously, I'm not the biggest fan of this concept as it's generally based on deception as Tom Wishon has described. He talks a bit about it on this video: I plan on installing a Fujikura shaft in it. And if I don't like it, I'm sure the re-sell value will be pretty good. 3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on Apr 26, 2016 10:15:42 GMT -5
Here's my latest specs:
I was going to change the shaft in the Cobra King F6 3-wood, but I really haven't had an issue with the shaft. It's feels like a very stiff tip section shaft, especially for a stiff flex shaft (however, most companies judge their shaft flex by the butt stiffness of the shaft).
However, I just purchased some new irons:
Part of the reason for the switch was my performance at the tournament (Victoria Hills) where I didn't hit the irons well. I struck one iron shot well for the entire round (and that flew the green). Another factor is that the Nippon Modus 130 shafts are not a good fit. I put a little more spin on the ball than most people and it's a low balance point shaft and that's not a good combination. I hit them incredibly straight and they have a nice feel (the Nippon Modus 120 shafts feel even better), but it's not the best fit for my swing.
I am also a big believer in trying to find clubs that may have a design advantage to them rather than just taking a club that 'looks pretty.' The Srixon's have the V-Sole which makes turf interaction better. So do the Hogan's, but the Hogan's cost much more and they are really a cavity back club. However, I have considered the Hogan 52 degree S-Wedge (when my Vokey SM5 is too wore down).
That's why I'm considering the Hogan VKTR hybrids when they come out. They have a V-Sole design and moveable weight system that I think could be advantageous or at least provide for a better fit.
I ordered some True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts and new ferrules for the Srixon Z945's. I expect to get both the shafts and irons (and hopefully the ferrules) on Thursday.
Of course, I'm still awaiting the Wishon Sterling 5-iron. I can still try that out and if I feel like they are superior to the Srixon's, I can always sell the Srixon's and cut the cost of the Wishon's.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on Apr 27, 2016 16:06:53 GMT -5
That was quick.
I got the irons and the shafts in the mail today (ordered them Monday AM).
I don't have the ferrules. Looks like they will be coming in on Friday.
So my plan is to get them prepped and then assemble them together on Friday. I will be out of town during the weekend and will probably use them on either the following Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mark Crossfield did a review of them on his YouTube channel:
Interesting to see the ball launches a little lower, but they carried as well, if not longer than cavity backs according to Crossfield.
I can see the design of the sole is a bit interesting. It's a little 'boxy', but has the V-Sole design. From my experience playing with higher bounce clubs, it's more likely to increase the spin rate. I think that is due to the club gliding thru the turf more easily and you're less likely to reduce friction (have grass and dirt get in the way) and therefore the ball is going to spin more. They are fairly low lofted, particularly for MB designs as the PW is at 46 degrees.
I don't really have experience at examining the V-Sole design. I've heard people talk about how the Edel irons have increased their club speed (people not associated with Edel). My guess is that the bounce helps with that as well. So, but lowering the lofts and with the V-Soles and their CoG placement, you get a lower launching iron that spins normally and produces normal max heights and therefore helps produce a longer shot than your normal muscleback design. And Nippon shafts with their low balance point would likely be a bad idea. However, TT DG Tour Issue X100's could be the perfect fit.
Just a guess.
Hope I'm right.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on May 2, 2016 16:08:09 GMT -5
I assembled the Srixon Z945's and the Wishon Sterling Single Length 5-iron and then played with the Srixon's on Sunday and hit the Wishon Sterling 5-iron on the range.
The Srixon's have the True Temper Tour Issue DG X100 shafts in them. What I was pleased about these clubs that they went about 1-club longer than the Yonex irons. I had a 176 yard shot into a 1-club win. I normally hit my 6-iron about 180 yards. Here, I hit it pretty well, but took a bad swing and got it there. I had a 152 yard shot on 18 and tried a 9-iron (normally about 147-yards and hit it about 158-160 yards.
The only thing I struggled a bit with the Srixon irons was on the punch shots.
The Wishon Sterling Single Length 5-iron was a pleasant surprise. I need to see what the different in distance is between that and my Srixon 4-iron. The 5-iron is built like a Game Improvement iron and I believe as the set progresses, the clubs look more like a player's CB. But the 5-iron is very clicky, big head with a wider sole. However, it was very easy to hit and to hit extremely straight. It was almost like I couldn't hit it with a curve if I tried.
I'll have to see what the distance differences is between the Wishon Sterling and Srixon irons, but if they are close, I'll have to investigate the Wishon Sterling irons a little more.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on May 10, 2016 15:11:21 GMT -5
Got the Enlow Grip in the mail.
I only bought 1 (they aren't cheap, $12.95 per grip).
I like the reverse taper concept. I forgot to weigh it, but I can figure out what it weighs later.
I used the air compressor to put this grip on. The grip is huge, but it's reverse tapered, so the butt end of the club still fits the air compressor gun.
And it was very easy to put on. You just need a small amount of grip solvent on the mouth of the grip, just to get it on and a little bit of air pressure and the grip goes on easily.
My driver was at 2,825 MOI with the old PURE Grips P2 Wrap and is now at 2,852 MOI with the Enlow grip.
To me, this feels better than the Jumbo Max Grips which feel more like a Winn grip with cheap wrapping on the surface that feels like it will peel away. The Enlow Grip is a firmer feeling grip and feels really solid. And the reverse taper grip makes me think that people that grip the club more in their fingers and have more wrist-cock in the backswing can play with them.
Here's a case study done by Michael Neff from GEARS Golf discussing what he saw with the Jumbo Max Grips
I found the same with the Jumbo Max grips. I would leave everything WELL to the right. And high. So, my hope is that the Enlow Grip in the driver can produce some of those things, but not the extreme of opening the face too much.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on May 13, 2016 9:54:15 GMT -5
So far, the Enlow Grip has been incredible. I mean REALLY great. I'm amazed at how straight the ball flies even off the toe. It feels like you can't toe-hook it. I'll be interested to see what the distance is like. I think it's pretty obvious that I'm generating more speed with this grip.
I'll be going to the PGA Tour Superstore to get my Srixon's lie angles bent. I did some rudimentary comparison between the Srixon's and the Yonex's and the Srixon's are too upright. That would explain the pulls, heel draws and high trajectory shots.
I am playing with my dad on Saturday at a course I've never played before. But on Sunday I'll probably try to get out on Metrowest just to see how I hit the driver with the Enlow grip and see what difference it makes. If it's a thumbs up over the weekend, I'll try the Enlow grip out on one of my irons and see if we are really onto something.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on May 16, 2016 9:48:13 GMT -5
I had a great experience with the Enlow grip on my driver this weekend. I found it extremely difficult to miss left with this thing. I had a few rightward misses, but those were some common swing mechanics issues and I would have missed right on those shots regardless of the grip I was using. The big thing I like about it? The toe-hits. Much better ball flight and like I said...almost impossible to miss left...so no more toe-snap hooks.
I found that I hit them the same distance as usual (I had to go to Metrowest and see that). And an added benefit was that it relieved the stress from my wrists and forearms.
I'm going to try and put it on my 5-iron today and see how that works.
Very excited.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on May 19, 2016 8:46:13 GMT -5
The Enlow Grips are a go. I blew the grip I have off the driver and put it on the 6-iron. With the 6-iron, this took me a dozen shots to get used to it. I was just missing right a little. However, I had not touched a club in a few days and wasn't swing all that well at first.
You simply won't miss left with these grips and for me...if I'm missing a little right with these grips it's not because of the grip. It's my swing mechanics were a little off, which they were.
Eventually I started to flush these things and they are ultra-forgiving on toe strikes.
I had the PGA Tour Superstore bend my Srixon's to the same lie angle as my Yonex irons. This was my first time hitting them with the changed lie angles and they performed much better.
I found that the Enlow Grip on the driver will increase the MOI by about 30 points and it increased the 6-iron MOI by 18 points.
I ordered an entire set of the Enlow Grips. It's not cheap ($130 for 14 grips), but it's only a little bit of cash for something that I really like.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on May 25, 2016 10:34:53 GMT -5
I got my Enlow Grips yesterday and installed them. Some of them I couldn't hit quite yet as the solvent was still drying. I think the best and cleanest way to use those Enlow Grips with the air compressor is to get a Q-Tip and swab the mouth of the grip with solvent and then get the grip onto the shaft and air compress them on.
I was able to try out the grips on:
3-wood 2-hybrid 3-hybrid 3-iron 7-iron 9-iron S-Wedge
I loved the grip on the 3-wood. It was awesome. If anything with my 3-wood, I tend to miss left and again, you really have to take a lousy swing and almost try to hit it left in order to miss left. It was also great with the 3-iron. The ball flight is excellent and again, the 3-iron I tend to miss left with (although I use it just for practice).
I really liked it with the 7-iron and 9-iron as well. What I found interesting...and it may have just been a 1-time thing...is that I would take a little more of a divot with the Enlow Grips on the 7-iron and 9-iron.
The same with the S-Wedge, but that might be a bit counterproductive as I want to avoid taking divots on pitch shots because I'm trying to spin the ball.
With the hybrids I was hitting them straight or with a little draw, but very high. Again, that may be a 1-time thing as well. I'll have to see. However, I'm probably going to get new hybrids anyway.
I should be getting golf in over the Memorial Day weekend, so I will get to see how these grips work in actual rounds of golf.
3JACK
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Post by Richie3Jack on Dec 15, 2016 10:34:38 GMT -5
Here's a look at my latest WITB (pics to come)
DRIVER: TaylorMade M1, 9.5* loft, 45-1/4" Fujikura 661 Speeder Evolution Tour Spec shaft (X-Stiff), 2,825 MOI
I have generally liked the M1 and it works better for me into the wind than the Wishon would. I just need to string together a long stretch of practice sessions and golf weekends in order to really get in tune with the driver.
3-WOOD: Cobra King F6+, 13* loft, 43-1/4" Matrix Red Tie (stiff) shaft), 2,805 MOI
I think I finally found the 3-wood of my liking, the only thing that needs to change is the shaft as it is a bit soft for me. I hit this about 250-260 yards on a quality strike. But into the wind with the soft shaft it can easily go only about 220 yards. I plan on getting some sort of Fujikura shaft put in.
2-HYBRID: Mizuno Fli-Hi CLK, 17* loft, 41" KBS Tour Hybrid shaft (x-stiff), 2,775 MOI
This is still a really good club for me. However, I'm experimenting with hybrids now and if I find a new 3-Hybrid I like, I will match the 2-Hybrid as well.
3-HYBRID: Hogan VKTR, 20* loft, 39-3/4" Aldila NV 85H (x-stiff), 2,635 MOI
I originally tried the TaylorMade M1 hybrid as it has a Fujikura Pro 83H (x-stiff) shaft. However, the lie angle was too flat and I would hit too many shots off the toe and you can't really adjust the lie angle on the M1 hybrids. So I decided to go back and look at the Hogan VKTR which is a lovely looking head with plenty of weight ports to adjust. The problem is that the shaft is very short for a 3-hybrid, about 1" shorter than most normal hybrid. And that makes for a very light MOI (2,635). However, the face contract as far as where the club is reaching the ball on 'good' swings is right on the money. It's just that the MOI is so light that it's hard to really time things.
I plan on putting a Fujikura Pro 83H (x-stiff) shaft in here and 'fit to length' for the MOI (cutting the shaft down to where it reaches 2,775 MOI instead of cutting it a certain length and adding or reducing the weight in the head to get it to 2,775 MOI).
Again, once I find the 3-Hybrid to my liking, I'll match the 2-Hybrid to it.
4-IRON THRU P-WEDGE: Srixon Z945, standard lie and loft, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts, 2,725 MOI
I have decided that I would like to get fit in the Spring for irons. However, my goal is going to be a bit different here. I plan on trying to find the irons that I can hit the LONGEST. That includes going back into the cavity back head and composite shafts realm. Under the following conditions:
1. I won't go into a game improvement style head. I'll give quite a bit of leeway in terms of cavity back models, but I would prefer to stick closer to a 'Player's CB' if possible.
2. I need something that controls the launch.
3. I need something that controls the spin.
If I can control the spin and the launch so the numbers are not so wacky and find the clubs I hit the furthest, I think I can make it so I have good distance and directional control of the irons.
I will have to get my swing back into shape (it really hasn't been all that bad lately, but I'm still not quite on point). I would prefer an outdoor fitting facility and will likely come up with the best fit under my criteria and then buy a 6-iron and assemble that and see what I think. I'm not really considering PXG because of the price range, but if they clearly out-perform the rest, then I would likely consider it.
S-WEDGE: Titleist Vokey SM6 F-Grind, 52* loft, 12* bounce, Nippon Modus 125 Wedge shaft, 2,750 MOI
I went to the SM6 because my SM5 was worn out.
Most Vokey fanatics I have known were not crazy about the SM5, but they really like the SM6. I liked the SM5 because I had been trying so many different OEM 52* wedges and couldn't find a good fit and the SM5 far out-performed those. However, I can see why the disdain for the SM5 as the SM6 is just about perfect. It flights the shots exactly how I want to and I believe it actually feels better. I'm shocked how good the SM6 is.
One of the differences I see in the SM6 is that the hosel bore is about a 1/4" longer and that also makes the head about 2-grams lighter. I took my Nippon Modus Wedge shaft from my SM5 and installed it into the SM6 and found it was shorter and had a lighter MOI because of the loss in head weight. I didn't want to waste the Nippon shaft, so I asked for a 3/8" shaft extension and then the MOI went overboard. It's a graphite extension, so I'm going to try and cut off 1/8" and see how that goes. If it doesn't, I'll just get a new Nippon wedge shaft and fit to length.
L-WEDGE: Edel Digger Grind, 60* loft, 22* bounce, Nippon Modus 125 Wedge shaft, 2,725 MOI
I've had this for over a year now and I'm still amazed how much spin this wedge gets. Best L-Wedge I have ever hit, bar none.
PUTTER: Edel The Brick, 3* loft, 72* lie angle, 35" long, PURE Grips Big Dog grip, 2,872 MOI
I still love this putter very much. However, I plan on getting a Directed Force Putter, soon. I will have the DF Putter customized to reduce the size of the 'T' alignment lines. The bigger those alignment lines are, the more it throws off my aim from my experience. I thinkt he DF Putter makes too much sense for me to not use. I can see how some golfers could really struggle with the DF Putter, but my stroke is lower rotational and that's what the DF Putter is really about.
3JACK
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